Sweet Charity 60 No. 6 - Verdon All Aglow

Gwen Verdon as Charity Hope Valentine in Sweet Charity. Photo by Ralph Morse for LIFE Magazine.

Gwen Verdon All Aglow

from LIFE Magazine, March 25, 1966

"Though the very look of it is rosy-hued sin, the lady is dreaming of the suburban world of kids, station wagons and PTA. She is Gwen Verdon, starring as Chair in the new Broadway musical Sweet Charity, in which she is anything but the devil’s helpmate she portrayed in Damn Yankees. She is a dime-a-dance girl who is the soul of sweetness, though she charges $6.25 a half-hour because there’s an inflation on, and who wants out in the worst way.

"Miss Verdon herself--who has no intention of getting out, praise be—is 41 years old and a grand-mother. But you’d never guess it from the way she prances with legs, arms and tangerine hair flying. Although the plot is weak—little more than a revue—the dance numbers, choreographed by the star’s husband Bob Fosse, are as classy and big as all suburbia.

I'm A Brass Band

Photo by Ralph Morse for LIFE Magazine.

(below left) Charity’s hard-boiled co-hostesses line the rail at the Fan-Dango Ballroom to tempt customers with their touchy taxi-dancer’s anthem, Big Spender.

(below right) Rhythm of Life

Big Spender

Photo by Ralph Morse for LIFE Magazine.

Below, she bounces on bed in sumptuous apartment of Italian movie idol who befriends her. Wearing the silk top hat he gave her as a memento, Charity sings If My Friends Could See Me Now.

If My Friends Could See Me Now

Photo by Ralph Morse for LIFE Magazine.

Photo by Ralph Morse for LIFE Magazine.